A to Z of N. Ireland Punk Bands

COLENSO PARADE

Colenso Parade were an alternative rock band formed in Belfast in October 1984. Taking their name from a street in the Stranmillis area of their native city, the original line-up was Oscar (Thomas) Askin (vocals), Linda Clendinning (keyboards), Andrew Middleton (Ex The Androids) later replaced by Neil Lawson (bass guitar), Jackie Forgie (guitar) (Ex Ruefrex) and Jeff Beattie (ex Victim) later replaced by Robert Wakeman (drums).

After releasing two singles on their own Goliath label, ‘Standing Up (1984) and ‘Down By The Border’ (1985), they relocated to London and signed to their manager Dave Bedford's Fire Records, with Forgie being replaced by future The House of Love/Levitation guitarist Terry Bickers. Several radio sessions were recorded, including one for the Janice Long Show on BBC Radio One and one for local Downtown Radio.

The band teamed up with producer Troy Tate (the man responsible for the Smiths’ early classics) for their next release, a 12” EP on Fire Records entitled (Hallelujah Chorus and Other Coyote Yelps) released in 1985. They appeared on BBC Northern Ireland Youth Programme Channel One To promote it and footage of their appearance can be viewed below. This was broadcast on 17th March 1986.

An album was issued the following year, entitled ‘Glentoran’. Bickers departed to join The House of Love, to be replaced by John Watt (previously of Kissed Air and currently composer for BBC's Dragons' Den). Wakeman also left, his replacement being ex-Big Self & Stage B drummer Owen Howell (R.I.P).

Their next release, "Fontana Eyes" was arguably their most commercially received, receiving heavy airplay, although they split soon after, in 1986.

Singer Oscar was offered the job of replacing Ian McCulloch in Echo & the Bunnymen but declined, and went on to work in corporate events as MD of the Technical Production company Metro Ecosse. Drummer Wakeman later resurfaced in the band Salad. Lawson is currently an aircraft photographer, while Linda Clandinning has trained as a hairdresser.